TUC backs news recovery plan


THE TUC welcomed the publication of the NUJ’s news recovery plan to support innovative, public interest journalism and protect jobs. Congress acknowledged the importance of “trustworthy, relevant, impartial news”, particularly at times of national crisis. The NUJ campaigned


successfully for this to be recognised by securing an agreement for journalists to be designated as key workers. The plan, From Health Crisis


to Good News, proposes measures to support and protect jobs by revitalising the industry and ensuring it is grounded in the public good. In an extended session of the general council, the TUC agreed unanimously to back an NUJ motion calling for a campaign demanding that tech giants pay a digital


information levy. This is because companies have made huge amounts and exploited editorial content for years without paying for its creation. The campaign will also call


for tax breaks for news subscriptions and support for start-ups. Other proposals cover government investment in public interest news.


The TUC agreed that no public funding should be provided to any company that was making redundancies, paying out dividends or resisting union recognition. The NUJ’s motion also


called for greater plurality in the media and tighter regulation over ownership.


New ideas needed to reach young people


FRESH thinking is needed to keep news coverage relevant to young people, Unite’s assistant general secretary Tony Burke told a TUC fringe meeting. Speaking at the Morning Star’s 'Media and the virus' meeting, Burke,


who used to work for a local newspaper group, said the media had changed even before the coronavirus lockdown. There had been a boom in the use of social media, websites and radio. He said most younger people did not


buy newspapers or watch TV and they accessed news through mobile phones. NUJ general secretary Michelle


Stanistreet said at the meeting that the NUJ was proposing vouchers for news subscriptions for 18- and 19-year-olds.


“ Union busting called out


UNION busting has no place in our society and workers should be able to organise without fear of reprisals or bullying, NUJ general secretary Michelle Stanistreet said in a statement. Her comments followed


congress declaring support for workers at London-based broadcaster Iran International. An NUJ motion condemning the actions of the British Association of Journalists, which made a secret recognition deal with Iran


International that allowed the company to undermine the NUJ’s recognition bid, was unanimously approved. The motion affirms the right


of workers to be collectively represented by a union of their choice and commits the TUC to campaign to make union-busting moves unlawful. The TUC’s backing comes at a time when one NUJ rep at Iran International, who helped build an active chapel, has been made redundant and another redeployed.


Congress acknowledged the importance of ‘trustworthy, relevant, impartial news’, particularly at times of crisis


tuc news in brief...


CARTMAIL BECOMES TUC PRESIDENT Gail Cartmail, who has represented workers for over 40 years and is assistant general secretary at Unite, was elected as the new president of the TUC. In 1983, she was the NGA print union’s first female TUC delegate and she wants more women and young people to become active in their unions.


STARMER TAKES AIM AT FIRE AND REHIRE The government must outlaw fire and rehire tactics, Labour leader Keir Starmer told the conference. He said thousands of workers had been given redundancy notices then offered new contracts on worse pay and conditions. “These tactics should be illegal. They punish good employers, hit working people hard and harm our economy,” he said.


GENDER PENSION GAP TWICE THAT OF PAY Research by the Prospect union shows that the pension gap between women and men is more than twice the gender pay gap. Sue Ferns, Prospect deputy general secretary, said it was a scandal that the government did not even report on the extent of the pension gap let alone have a plan to close it.


General secretary joins TUC executive


Michelle Stanistreet, the NUJ’s general


secretary, has joined the TUC’s executive committee. She said it was a time of great challenge with more people turning to the trade union movement. TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady paid tribute to the role of journalists in society when she nominated Stanistreet for the role. She also said the trade


union needed to repudiate threats to journalism from politicians and others.


NUJ theJournalist | 7


MATT KENYON


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